LET SLEEPING OWNERS LIE: COAXING YOUR CAT TO LET YOU SLEEP PAST 4 A.M.

Ahhh … nothing like peacefully drifting off after a long day. You’re having the most wonderful dream when — WHAP! — your cat starts tapping your forehead with their paw at four in the morning, wondering if you’d be a dear and fetch them some fresh DINE^® meals. For a creature that sleeps 16 hours a day, why do cats insist on being awake when you want to get some rest? Even more important, how can you persuade them to let you sleep? Let’s investigate, shall we?

The night belongs to cats

Why are cats up all night? Is that when the clubs are open? Or when secret cat TV shows are on? Actually, it’s because cats are crepuscular creatures, which is a fancy way of saying they’re more active during the evening and at night. It’s been part of their ancestral instincts since day one and always will be.

You can’t fight Mother Nature on this one, but you can redirect your cat’s instincts to reduce the number of late-night raves on your bed.

How to prevent 4 a.m. wakeup calls

Set up a pre-bedtime ritual

Cats are creatures of habit and love a routine that makes them feel loved. By setting up a pre-sleep routine that includes a nutritious meal, playtime and a few quality cuddles, you can help minimize the chance of them disturbing your dreams.

Split dinnertime into two courses

Serve a small meal earlier in the evening and another just before you turn in. Serving dinner in two parts will keep your cat from bugging you in the wee hours of the morning. Plus, they’re more likely to be all “I’m so full. I’m just going to lie here on my sofa and catch up on my beauty sleep.” Using a food dispenser with a timer may also prove wise — it’s the cat version of the early-morning breakfast diner.

Schedule a playdate an hour before bedtime

Your feline has patiently waited all day while you were out, just so you could have the pleasure of playing with them. Play sessions at dusk or twilight, when cats are instinctually more active, are a great way to bond and use up their excess energy, so they’ll be more inclined to let you sleep in.

Provide quieter toys

Put out fabric-covered, plush or less noisy toys before bedtime. Otherwise you might wake up to the sounds of their favorite sparkly jingle ball being batted up and down the hallway.

Keep your bedroom door closed

Kitty might be displeased at first, but they’ll eventually get the idea and realize the rest of the house is theirs. Which they usually assume anyway.

Make sure their litter box is clean and bedding is accessible

If they don’t have a clean bathroom or a comfortable place to sleep, they’ll want to speak with the manager. (That’s you.)

So how much should I be feeding my cat?

The average cat weighs around 4-6kg, and it can be good to weigh your cat on some scales. Alternatively, you can weigh yourself holding your cat and then subtract your weight to work out your cat’s weight. The following are guidelines when serving up DINE^® Classic Collection meals:
Feed adult cats as per the product feeding guide, divided into two or more meals per day.
Feed pregnant and nursing queens around three times their normal amount (they’re eating for a litter after all).
Feed kittens as per the product feeding guide, divided into multiple small meals per day.

Remember: Quality over quantity

What you feed your cat also affects how much you need to feed them. Healthy, nutrient-rich foods made with premium ingredients — like those offered in DINE^® products — provide the optimal ideal amounts of protein, vitamins and minerals your cat needs. They already know they deserve the best; that’s why you serve DINE^® meals.

Dining delights

Cats have sophisticated palates, so treat their discerning taste buds to a special menu. Might we suggest DINE^® DESIRE^™cat food? Wet food trays available in Succulent Chicken, Pure Tuna Whitemeat, Flaked Tuna, and Shredded Crab and other flavours cats adore, the premium ingredients and mouth-watering textures are indulgent treats for your deserving kitty. Silver platter optional.